novella 1. Is Sam Bennett's initial reaction to his spiritual gift typical of what most people
might feel if given the same ability to read people's hearts? He feels he is not the right person for the job (p. 23) Why did Sam feel he was inadequate for the job? What exactly scared him about his gift (p. 27-29
& 62)? Can you think of other servants of God who felt that they were not the right person for the job God was telling them to do?
2. What would you do if you actually knew the spiritual needs of everyone you
came in contact with? What were some of the needs of the different people in this story, and do you think those needs are probably true to life? Just considering some of the people that you know, what are some other
needs? Do you agree with Sam's conclusion concerning the difference between the needs of non-Christians and the needs of Christians (p. 133)?
3. Do you think God hears the cries from people's hearts differently than
we do? Do you think we are always honest with ourselves about what our own needs are? (see pages 41, 68, & 89) Discuss.
4. Pastor John says that most people can't hear with the ears they've got, that
people's ears are clogged up and that we can't hear the most obvious things (p. 3). What does he mean, and do you agree with that or not? On what do you base your response?
5. What does Kate mean when she says,
"I keep thinking that I need God to break my heart so I can get back in tune with him (p. 65)?
6. Do you agree with Sam's new conviction that helping our Christian friends spiritually, and hoping that we
influence people with the examples we set in our lives is not enough (p. 80-81)?
7. Discuss the reaction of the Chairman of the deacons, Lawrence Shipman, to the influx of new converts to their church (p. 107).
Do you think his would be a typical or an atypical response in your church, or any other church? Also, see page 42 where John voices his complaint about being a preacher. Does what he say ring true in your church?
8.
Do you think any of us would behave differently if we were really convicted "That there's a hell and it's real and [that] people are going there" (p. 83)? Discuss this in terms of Annabelle York's worry as she
lay on her death bed in the hospital (p. 46).
9. The list of places where Sam heard the spiritual cries of people is quite diverse: in the diner, on the street, in the elevator, in the supermarket, at his work, in
the hospital, at the ball game, in Shoney's, and at the bus station. Name just one place that you go during your daily routine that it might be possible if you really listened to hear the needy cry of even one soul.
10. Discuss the problem of inferiority that Sally, Sam's secretary, seemed to be suffering. Does it surprise you that Christians like Sally describes herself as being could have missed or forgotten the message of
Christ's love, and the meaning of Luke 15 (the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son)?
11. How did Sam change as a Christian once he got used to his gift, and then after it left him?
12. The
last four sentences in the story pretty much sums up its message: "And what he couldn't hear, the Holy Spirit could. He could do what Sam couldn't (emphasis is mine). This man needed Jesus Christ. That was
all he [Sam] needed to know."
